• A Message From The Deans
• Mission of the School
• About the School and University
• Undergraduate Studies
• Graduate Studies
• Faculty Administration
• Departments and Academic Programs
• Undergraduate Minors
• Interdisiplinary Courses and Courses in Other Divsions of the University
• Campus and Student Life
• Scholarships, Fellowships, Awards, and Prizes
• University and School Policies Procedures, and Regulations
  • Academic Procedures and Standards
  • Academic Standing
  • Policy on Conduct and Discipline
  • Official University Regulations
  • Student Grievances, Academic Concerns, and Complaints
• Directory of University Resources

Official University Regulations

Reservation of University Rights

This bulletin is intended for the guidance of persons applying for or considering application for admission to Columbia University and for the guidance of Columbia students and faculty. The bulletin sets forth in general the manner in which the University intends to proceed with respect to the matters set forth herein, but the University reserves the right to depart without notice from the terms of this bulletin. The bulletin is not intended to be, and should not be regarded as, a contract between the University and any student or other person. 

Attendance

Religious Holidays

It is the policy of the University to respect its members’ religious beliefs. In compliance with New York State law, each student who is absent from school because of his or her religious beliefs will be given an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study, or work requirements that he or she may have missed because of such absence due to religious beliefs, and alternative means will be sought for satisfying the academic requirements involved.

Officers of administration and of instruction responsible for scheduling of academic activities or essential services are expected to avoid conflict with religious holidays as much as possible. If a suitable arrangement cannot be worked out between the student and the instructor involved, they should consult the appropriate dean or director. If an additional appeal is needed, it may be taken to the Provost.

Academic Discipline

The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Columbia University Ombuds Office

The Ombuds Office is a neutral and confidential resource for informal conflict resolution, serving the entire Columbia University community—students, faculty, and employees.

For further information, contact Ombuds Officer Marsha Wagner or Associate Ombuds Officer Bathabile K. S. Mthombeni at 660 Schermerhorn Extension; telephone: 212-854-1234;
e-mail: ; Web site: www.columbia.edu/cu/ombuds.
On Wednesdays the Ombuds Officer is at the Columbia Medical Center office, 101 Bard Hall, 50 Haven Avenue; telephone: 212-304-7026

Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action

The University’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (EOAA) has overall responsibility for the University’s equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies and has been designated to coordinate compliance activities under these policies and applicable federal, state, and local laws. Students, faculty, and staff may contact the EOAA Office to inquire about their rights under the University’s policies, request mediation or counseling, or seek information about filing a complaint.

Complaints by students against students are governed by the Equal Educational Opportunity and Student Nondiscrimination Policies and Procedures on Discrimination and Harassment.

Complaints by students against employees are governed by the Equal Employment Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policies and Procedures on Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment and Sexual Harassment.

Equal Educational Opportunity and Student Nondiscrimination Policies

Definitions

For purposes of these policies and procedures, discrimination, discriminatory harassment, and sexual harassment are defined as follows:

Discrimination is defined as (1) treating members of a protected class less favorably because of their membership in that class; or (2) having a policy or practice that has a disproportionately adverse impact on protected class members.

Discriminatory harassment is defined as substantially interfering with an individual’s educational experience by subjecting him or her to severe or threatening conduct or to repeated humiliating or abusive conduct, based on his or her membership in a protected class. This includes sexual harassment, which is described below in further detail.

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when: (1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s education; or (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for academic decisions affecting that individual; or (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, demeaning, or offensive academic or living environment.

Romantic Relationship Advisory Statement

Disability Accommodation

University Procedures Regarding Issues of Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment

Confidential Guidance and Counseling

Mediation

Formal Complaint Procedures

Procedure for Complaint against Another Student

Dean’s Discipline

Student complaints of discrimination
or discriminatory harassment against another student should be filed with the Dean of the school in which the accused student is enrolled. Complaints against students are investigated under the appropriate Dean’s Discipline procedure of the accused student’s school. Students found to have engaged in discrimination or discriminatory harassment will be subject to discipline up to and including expulsion.

Procedure for Complaint against a Student Organization

Students who wish to file a complaint of discrimination or discriminatory harassment against a student organization should do so in consultation with the Dean of Students of their own school.

Procedure for Complaint against a Member of the Faculty or Staff

Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action

Student complaints of discrimination or discriminatory harassment against a University employee should be filed with the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action. These complaints will be processed under the Equal Employment Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policies and Procedures on Discrimina-tion, Discriminatory Harassment and Sexual Harassment.

Grievances Procedures

Students should consult SEAS policies on Student Grievances, Academic Concerns and Complaints (see page 236) for the appropriate procedure to complain about a faculty member’s conduct in an instructional setting. The policy may be found online.

Sexual Assault Policy

On February 25, 2000, the University Senate adopted a Sexual Misconduct Policy and Disciplinary Procedure that can be used as an alternative to Dean’s Discipline; the policy and procedure have been renamed the Sexual Assault Policy and the Disciplinary Procedure for Sexual Assault respectively. The policy prohibits sexual assault by any student and is University wide, applying to all students in all schools of the University, including Teacher’s College and Barnard College. The Disciplinary Procedure for Sexual Assault is an option that applies to all students with the exception of students within the Law School, Jewish Theological Seminary, and/or Union Theological Seminary. Complaints of sexual assault for these schools are addressed through Dean’s Discipline. If the student being accused attends CC/SEAS, the Disciplinary Procedure for Sexual Assault will be the exclusive mechanism for filing a complaint.

Copies of the policy and procedure are available from the Administrative Coordinator of the Disciplinary Procedure for Sexual Assault, 701 Lerner, Mail Code 2617, 2920 Broadway, New York, NY 10027; telephone: 212-854-1717; fax: 212-854-2728; www.columbia.edu/cu/sexualmisconduct/. The policy and procedure can also be found in the Office of the Dean of Students of every school.

Policy

Complaint Resolution Options

Three University-based options are available for resolution of complaints of sexual assault against a student:

1. Dean’s Discipline within the school of the charged student;
2. the University’s Disciplinary Procedure for Sexual Assault; or
3. mediation through an accredited mediator affiliated with the University, such as the Ombuds Officer.
   

Complaints may also be filed with the New York City Police Department.

Choosing to pursue a disciplinary action can be a difficult and confusing decision. The Manager  of the Disciplinary Procedure for Sexual Assault is available to assist you in understanding your options for complaint resolution, as are trained peer advocates from the Rape Crisis/Anti-Violence Support Center.

Helen Arnold, Manager
Disciplinary Procedure for Sexual Assault

701ALerner, Mail Code 2617
2920 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
212-854-1717
fax: 212-854-2728
www.columbia.edu/cu/sexualmisconduct)

Complaints about nonstudent members of the University community should be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action at Columbia, the Dean of Studies Office at Barnard, or the Office of the Associate Dean at Teachers College.